Hyperemesis Support

[LucindaE]

We need a new thread already.

I hope this thread will give support to those suffering from the Horrors of
Hyperemesis, and that it will help to talk to other sufferers and those who have survived it.

There is no such thing as tmi here - the nature of the illness means that you have to be graphic when discussing it - and feel free to moan all you wish. You have reason to!

I want to thank FluffyWhiteKittens MOH Grumblin LA Caramel NitNat Coconuts Luce Grandma TheOnly and current sufferers MaryLou PearlFeekerry and many others who have been invaluable on the former threads. My apologies to anyone I've rudely overlooked, I daren't keep gabbling too long, or I might put off current sufferers.

Remember, when you are at your worst, the words from the Eastern story: - 'This Too Shall Pass.' It will...

Below is some brilliant information from MOH's website www.pregnancysicknesssos.co.uk. However, if you don't feel up to reading it now, feel free to skip it for now and have a good moan.

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of pregnancy sickness which affects between 1 and 3% of pregnant women. Historically, it was mistakenly thought to be a psychosomatic illness and women were treated as though they had a psychotic disorder. This view has been comprehensively disproven by numerous research papers in recent decades, and it is now known to be an illness of organic origin, although its causes have yet to be fully understood. There is a persistent common belief that no drugs should be given to women in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is not true. There are a number of effective anti-emetic (anti sickness) drugs which can safely be taken in early pregnancy. Unfortunately, the erroneous views that HG is a psychosomatic conditions and that no drugs are safe in the first trimester still persists in many places, shockingly, even amongst GPs and midwives. Sadly, many women still come across unsympathetic health professionals who are ignorant of current treatment methods.

How do I know if I have HG?
If you are suffering from persistent nausea and/or vomiting which is preventing you from eating and/or drinking then you may be suffering from HG. With ordinary nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), the sickness does not interfere with your ability to eat and drink enough, you should not be losing weight and you should be able to continue to care for yourself and your family although you may not be feeling too great. With HG, sufferers often need help caring for themselves, never mind look after their family. The illness can be completely debilitating for weeks or even months. If you're not sure, the HER foundation website who have a fact sheet to help you determine whether or not you are suffering from HG
www.helpher.org/mothers/hyperemesis-or-morning-sickness/index.php

Diagnosis is important as you will inevitably become dehydrated and you will need to be admitted to hospital for IV rehydration. Starvation is another risk. When your body burns fat for energy, it produces chemicals called ketones which can be detected in your urine. You can monitor your levels of starvation using ketosticks, available from pharmacies. You pee on the stick and it monitors your levels of ketones. If levels are high, you should tell your doctor or midwife. If you are worried about dehydration and ketone levels and you can't see your doctor or midwife, you can go to A&E.

Facts and Figures and FAQs

HG is worse in the first trimester for the majority of sufferers, though a significant proportion (10 ? 20%) suffer for the entire duration of the pregnancy. If you have close relatives (mothers, sisters) who have had HG, you are also at significantly higher risk of being a sufferer yourself. HG is the most common cause of hospitalisation of pregnant women in the first trimester.

Is it worse carrying a boy or a girl?
There is conflicting evidence as to whether having a boy or a girl makes HG worse, some studies say boys, some say girls.

Is it worse with twins?
Yes there is evidence that carrying more than one baby makes HG worse.

Will my baby be ok?
Babies born to HG mothers are usually absolutely fine. If you lose some weight during the first trimester the risks for the baby are low as it does not need much nutrition at this time and your body should have enough stores from before your pregnancy. However, if you continue to to lose weight due to lack of treatment or failed treatment, then there is an increased risk of low birth weight or pre-term birth. Studies show that this is a risk for women who are severely ill, are dehydrated for long periods and lose more than 10% of their body weight.

There is also growing evidence of long term health effects in some children born to mothers who suffer malnutrition in pregnancy. In some cases this is not evident until adulthood with increased risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
For more information see forums.helpher.org/viewtopic.php?t=18 and www.helpher.org/hyperemesis-gravidarum/complications/fetal-programming.php

I've heard that being sick is a sign of a healthy pregnancy, is this the case with HG?
You will often be told that morning sickness is a good sign and you should be happy that you're feeling sick. This is generally the case with normal NVP, however, it is not the case with untreated HG. There is actually a higher risk of pre-term birth and low birth weight. However, continuing to feel sick may be a sign that the pregnancy is still progressing. Some women with HG who miscarried reported that the first sign was that they suddenly stopped feeling sick.

What are the treatments?
Initially you will be advised to use non-pharmacoligical strategies which are similar to the general advice given to any pregnant women suffering from nausea. These include eating little and often, eating protein-rich, low-fat meals, avoiding triggers of nausea such as strong smells and getting enough rest. You can try ginger, seabands (accupressure wristbands used for travel sickness) and extra doses of vitamin B6. Avoid getting out of bed in the morning without something in your stomach such as a tea biscuit or cracker. Some women find that these give relief in the initial stages of HG but they become ineffective once the illness is in full swing.

The next line of treatment is prescribed antiemetics such as phenergan, cyclizine, stemetil and ondansetron. For many women these work well and control the nausea and vomiting enough for them to eat and drink normally and regain some of their lost weight. Many can even return to normal life. You may find that one antiemetic on its own is not effective and you may need to try different combinations but you can discuss this with your doctor. Even with antiemetics, you will probably still need to use coping strategies such as getting extra rest, eating small frequent meals and avoiding triggers when the HG is at its peak. If you are dehydrated, you may be admitted to hospital for IV fluids. Minerals and vitamins can be added to the drip to replace any you may have lost, as well as antiemetics.

Unfortunately, antiemetics don't work for everyone. If they are ineffective, you should be referred to an obstetrician (if you haven't been already) for the next line of treatment, which will probably be steroids. These carry a small risk of cleft palate, but this will be discussed with your doctor. In a small number of cases even this is not effective and drastic treatments such as feeding with a tube directly into the stomach may have to be considered.

My GP is unsympathetic and refuses to prescribe me drugs - what should I do?
Unfortunately this experience is all too common. In this case you should see another GP if possible. You should also ask for a referral to an obstetrician. If you remain untreated and become dehydrated, you can have yourself admitted to A&E for IV fluids and ask to be seen by an obstetrician.

Do alternative remedies work?

Some women are greatly helped by alternative medicine, particularly Homepathy and Acupunture. Some women can claim to have had the illness 'stopped in its tracks' by Acupunture, but success varies between individual patients and it tends to be expensive. These remedies are worth a try if you can afford it but have a back up plan incase it doesn't work.

How long will this last for?
For most women, HG peaks in the first trimester and tails off or disappears completely later in the pregnancy. The usual advice for morning sickness is that it will improve after 12 weeks. The majority of HG sufferers find that it takes longer than this. Unfortunately, some women suffer severely for the entire pregnancy. Others find that it improves, but they suffer from nausea and occasional vomiting until birth. Relapse is quite common especially if you have tried to return to your normal busy life. There is a great temptation to make up for lost time and become very active once you start to feel better, but this very often leads to the nausea returning. You should be very careful about resuming work and normal household activities even if you feel as though you're up to it. Be careful too about stopping your medication, do it very gradually and resume at the first sign of the condition returning. You may have to continue to take it for the entire pregnancy to prevent a relapse.
All I can drink is coke, I'm worried that I'm not eating a healthy diet.

Through pregnancy, we are bombarded with advice about what to eat and what not to eat. Women with HG often find that the list of food and drinks that they can keep down is very small and not at all from the healthy options. For some reason, women with Hyperemesis ofen find sweet and salty foods ie, sweet drinks like coke, and crisps, are more likely to stay down than healthy foods. Their peculiar diet can lead to disapproving comments and the incorrect assumption that this is how they normally eat.
Various women find different drinks acceptable. Coke (often left to go flat) Lucozade, lemonade, milkshakes and IronBru, Dr Pepper, orange squash, apple juice, lime juice, ice cubes made of flat coke or just tapwater, ice lollies and sips of tepid water can help in keeping rehydrated. 

When the illness is at its worst during the early hormonal surges - typically between eight and ten weeks- then it is difficult to retain any liquids and you may need to be hospitalised for rehydration at about this time. 

When solids do become bearable,jelly, tinned fruit, ice lollies, ice cream, crisps, fish fingers, potato cakes, crumpets, soda bread and similar potato based or salty foods have often been found to be acceptable.

The important thing to remember at this time is that it doesn't matter what you eat or drink, the crucial thing is that you eat or drink something. Don't forego something because you are worried that it's bad for you. In a normal diet, too much salt and sugar is bad for you, but when you consume nothing else, this may be your only source of calories, fluid and salt for the day. Instead of berating yourself for your unhealthy diet, congratulate yourself that you have kept something down because your body needs it. If you are able to take vitamin tablets or syrups, then do so but most women find that large multivitamin tablets make the nausea worse. You may be able to get vitamins that dissolve under your tongue which you may be able to tolerate. If and when you begin to feel better, you can start to re-introduce more healthy food.

Will it go away when I give birth?
The good news is that for the vast majority of sufferers the physical symptoms of HG disappear completely as soon as the baby is born. You should be aware though that it is not unknown for the nausea to persist after birth especially if you have been severely ill. If this occurs, speak to your doctor. For women who suffered persistent, long term nausea and vomiting, it may take some time to restore energy levels and nutritional reserves. Moreover, while the physical symptoms may leave, the trauma of HG can leave an emotional legacy for many women, especially when combined with the rigours of caring for a baby. If you have any concerns, speak to your doctor or midwife. Don't feel that you should just be able to pick yourself up and get on with things, if you're having problems you are entitled to seek support.

Will I get it in my next pregnancy and will it be the same?
Unfortunately, having HG in one pregnancy puts you at a high risk of suffering in subsequent pregnancies although it is possible to escape it. Some women find that the HG gets better in subsequent pregnancies, whereas others find it stays the same or gets worse. There is really no way of knowing how your pregnancies will relate to each other.

Can I do anything to prepare for HG incase I get it again in my next pregnancy?
The HER website has a page of advice on preparing for your next pregnancy. forums.helpher.org/viewtopic.php?t=17. If you had medication which worked for you in your previous pregnancy, make sure that you have it ready to take as soon as you feel ill. Studies show that the quicker you get on top of the sickness, the better the medication works. Because HG can start within days of missing your period, see your GP as soon as you know you're pregnant.

Useful sources of information
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK have no guidelines on the treatment and management of HG. However, the American College of Obs/Gynae (ACOG) and the Society of Obs/Gynae of Canada (SOGC) have published guidelines which can be found at the following sites

www.sogc.org/guidelines/public/120E-CPG-October2002.pdf 

www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=10939

Pregnancy Sickness Support is a UK based organisation run by GPs and midwives with direct experience of HG. They have a helpline which you can call for advice ? if nobody answers you leave a message and a midwife will call you back. They will be able to answer your questions about treatments and they keep a note of doctors around the country who are known to be sympathetic to HG sufferers and are willing to treat it with medication. Their website is at www.pregnancy sicknesssupport.org.uk

The Hyperemesis Education and Research Foundation (HER) is a US based foundation which was formed by HG survivors and has a mission to research the causes of HG and provide information and support for other sufferers. They have links to the latest scientific research and are actively involved in funding research, although you usually have to live in the USA to take part. There are loads of threads on every topic related to HG from women who have been through it, including very useful information about which treatment regimes worked. Their website is at www.hyperemesis.org.
Dealing with well meaning but unhelpful advice

Women with HG are often told by friends and family that it's just morning sickness, a normal part of pregnancy and you just have to put up with it. Many HG sufferers report extreme frustration at being advised to try ginger, dry crackers or eat little and often. Most of them have tried every remedy they can think of to no avail. Because most women are familiar with NVP, there is often an attitude of, well I had morning sickness and I just got on with it. HG sufferers are often left with the feeling that they are whingers and malingerers and that if only they could adopt a positive attitude then they would be fine. This can lead to further depression in what is already a depressive condition. In order to deal with this, it is important that the HG sufferer has some supportive friends or family who can firmly but politely fend off these comments. The sufferer will often have no energy to deal with it herself. If possible explain to the person giving the advice that you are not suffering from morning sickness, you are suffering from a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum.

I have never known anyone with HG. Where can I talk to women who understand how I feel?
There is a support thread on the talk boards here (ask MT to add link) which is run by sufferers and ex-sufferers. There are discussions of practical issues such as tips for coping and medication but the real value of this forum is that you get sympathy and understanding from people who know exactly what you're going through. If you just want to moan or let off steam, you are free to do so and nobody will hold it against you. Comments are also welcome from relatives, partners, friends and carers of HG sufferers. The HER website also has talk boards at forums.helpher.org/. There is also a UK based yahoo group called Bloomingawful at health.groups.yahoo.com/group/bloomingawful/

Finally from me, here's a list of due dates. Do add yourself when you feel up to it.

ElliottsMummy: EDD 25/9/11
Mancbird: EDD 08/10/11
AgBag: EDD 18/10/11
HeftyMutha: EDD 28/10/11
Littlewizz: EDD 6/11/11
CakeForBreakfast: EDD 07/11/11
Marylou: EDD 9/11/11
MotherofPearl: EDD 17/11/11
Eggy: EDD 30/11/11
LadyOTCM: 01/12/11
Diddygirl: EDD 19/12/11
Bensgirl: EDD
Alias: EDD ??/12?11
m1nn1e: EDD ??/01/12
Angel: 16/01/12
Seapie: 30/01/12
Louby86: EDD 17/02/12
MummyMccar: 23/02/12
Feekerry 19/03/2012
Magnum White 26/03/2012
Helibee 25/04/2012
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Hi all how are we doing.

Welcome maldivemoment and sorry not on such a good note. You will have great support from these guys. I have found this thread great support as no one turns round and tells you to get on with it which is great. Moan away it make you feel better. Follow MOH advice as all links have great advice and are written in plain english rather then doctor language LOL

I was naughty last night by 2am I hadn't been to sleep and had been sick 4/5 times since 10pm so I took a cyclezine and slept for 16 hours. Been back on phone to dr and spoke to my usual GP who was furiuos the doctor reduced my dose so back up and supply being dropped of by family tomorrow. Bit out of it today feel like i've been beaten up inside.

Maldivemoment Welcome, come and take a place on the cyber sofa. MOH has given such great advice all I need say is my usual: - how are liquids staying down and is jelly, flat coke, ice lollies or nibbles of crisps any good? Really sorry you are lying awake trying not to be sick [shcok] night is so lonely especially with an OH sleeping happily.
Fleurliese I am so glad that it is a bit better, but still sounds bad enough.
SMH It sounds like Hyperemesis to me, for sure, if you can't stir from the sofa! Yes, Acupunture worked wonders for me, I was in a truly terrible state when I tottered to an Acupuncturist, and he told me if the vomiting didn't stop in hours it was emergency and IV for me, but it did! I have recommended it to people, but while it has helped most sufferers at least a bit, I know it helped Fluffy and to a lesser extent Caramel but it doesn't seem to have had a lasting effect on many and I feel guilty about recommending something so expensive that only has a temporary effect on so many. I'm always in a quandry about it...Ah, you're a teacher too, and Clandy. Clandy how are things going?
Horsey So glad you've got the support of your general doctor and will get meds back at the proper level. That sounds awful, four or five puking spells after 10 pm. .
MOH Excellent advice, as ever.
Sorry, anyone I've rudely overlooked...
Lucinda
xx

So, I don't think the promethazine did much! Took it about an hour before going to bed and felt no difference whatsoever - still felt groggy through the night. Those of you who have used it, do I need to take it regularly for it to have an effect? I was hoping to get away with just taking it when the sickness was particularly bad?

Thank you again in advance...

Hello maldivemoment! Can't help on the tablets I'm afraid as I am new to this and not on any yet.

Horsey sorry to hear you were not well. Glad you got your proper doctor on the phone and are getting it sorted.

I had a rough patch in asda today which was slightly embarrassing running through the supermarket with DD in tow was not my finest moment, happened last week as well so think there must be a smell or something that sets me off. I have bought myself a huge bag of crisps to nibble and some maltesers so hoping for a rest and a munch while DD sleeps (possibly a sleep too )

hello everyone. hope everyone is okay. welcome maldivemoment haven't tried that drug so cant comment. if its not working tho push for something else. (ondanastron + cyclizine! if i haven't mentioned that in every thread i post! but for me it was literally a life saver so i'm allowed to harp on about it!!)

well, i'm now 23 weeks and i think (whispers!) that the HG is easing off. i've been down to 1x cyclizine and 1x ondansatron a day now for the last 5 days and haven't been sick in the last 10 days so i think it may have gone. i'm frightened to stop it all together tho in case it returns with avengence. it always takes me a few days to recover when i've previously cut down on the meds and it fails as its such a shock to go back to feeling so awful, so i end up feeling really awful for days as i get back into a medication cycle.
what do you think, has anyone's severe HG gone around this stage or is it that its just eased up?

Hi all. how is everyone today?

maldivemoment you probably need to give tablets a few days to work before they maybe any change. it took me 4 days on my highest dose of cyclezine before i felt any major changes.
feekeey hope HG is easing up for you x
clandy you thougt of home delivery then you dont have to put up with the smells that might set you off plus if your not feeling up to shopping, you dont have to go out.

Had a better night last night. was only sick once during night which is normal at moment. just very tired today. hubby says he can feel a bump on my belly. not hard when i lost a stone plus during first 3 months and gone back to size 8 from 10/12.

Maldi I am sorry I can't advise either, because I was only on anti sickness meds from the Acupunturist, effective, funny little pills, I've forgotten what they were called.
Fekerry I'm delighted! Twenty weeks has often a cut off point for women on here, if they have the misfortune to go by the fourteen and sixteen week points (only the very lucky ones seem to get relief at twelve weeks from what I've seen). Wish I could advise about meds, so many women tryand reduce and as you say, put themselves back. But ten days sounds hopeful...
Horsey Congratulations on bump. . The only time one is happy to lose one's figure...
Clandy I do worry about you struggling along without medical treatment (cluck cluck). How awful about Asda, but you made it to the loo? Some people are wonderful for timing, they always make it to the loo, I wasn't one, I'm afraid. Street bins (they didn't have covered ones in Ealing then!) carpets, the wardrobe served instead ... I hope the crisps help. Maltesers sounds interesting.
Fleurliese How is the nausea?
Take care, everyone...
Lucinda
xx

Aww feekerry sounds like good news hope it is your HG easing off.

And glad you had a better night Horsey.

Yes I'm thinking it's online from bow on I am exhausted after it today and have had a horrible day being sick. Spoke to DP who says he really doesn't want me to go on meds as when his nan had bad morning sickness she was offered a drug which she said no to and turned out to be linked to birth defects...

Just thought I'd call in and say hello to all! This forum was such a support to me when I was suffering with HG. It was this time last year I was admitted to hospital with dehydration due to HG and at the time I could not see an end to it. But now I have a beautiful 4 month old baby! Just wanted to say to feekerry that my HG got much better at 20 weeks and I was able to reduce my cyclizine and eventually stop it. The nausea never really went but it was manageable after about 20 weeks. I threw up throughout labour though and for about 6 hours after and then it just suddenly went! Also, as a positive - a newborn baby was an absolute breeze compared to HG! There's loads of great advice on here and support and its great knowing that other people are going through it or been there and survived - I used to feel that people just thought I was a bit of a wimp! Be reassured that it really is worth it in the end - it just seems a long way til the end. Best wishes all!!

Hello all, it has been a few months since I discovered this fabulous thread. I discovered it when researching HG in 2nd pregnancy as I had a very bad experience in my first short pregnancy 9 years ago. I was not pregnant at the time so have not been back since that initial visit. But I am now 5.5 weeks pregnant, and very happy to see that the thread is still going!

So far, apart from feeling a bit queesy first thing and at the end of the day I am carrying on life as normal, and enjoying as much healthy eating as I can just in case! Last time it all started at 6/7 weeks, so understandably I am anxious, but also, just really trying to enjoy this time now, and get as much rest as I can too.

Here's hoping that I will not be floored during the whole party season - but if so, lovely to see lot's of support still going strong on here, LucindaE & MOH thank you for keeping this going.

Clandy Please reassure DH about that - that would have been Thaledomide, the nightmare results of which caused dr's to refuse to prescribe safe meds for women suffering from Hyperemesis for years - but that was in the days before proper testing, no such drug would be prescribed these days. The anti nausea drugs have been found to be safe for years, many women on these threads have been on a cocktail of them, and there safety is a matter of record that MOH will no doubt have the statistics on! Please don't let the terror of the Thaledomide nightmare of the 1960's make you keep on suffering. Mother hen hopoes you go tothe doctor, and also hopes poor you that you are keeping on with the kesosticks. Is nothing at all stayihg down? Sips of flat coke? Jelly? Ice lollies? Lucozade?
Lottie Lovely to hear from you, and for such an encouraging post for current sufferers. it's amazing to think a year has gone by! Congrats on baby again, y our fourth, I seem to remember?
Belladons Congratulations on your pregnancy! I remember you well and I do hope you escape the dreaded scourge this time, after all, they say every pregnancy is different! If not, feel free to moan all you like and you will have the confidence to go and get the treatment you need.
Lucinda
xx

Hi all :) Hi to Lottie and Belladons. How are you all today?
Horsey - glad you are a bit better. Great news about bump ! I think I feel one when I lie on my tummy but can't believe I'd have one at 11 weeks !!
Feekerry - so pleased things have improved for you.
Clandy - I understand reluctance to take meds on any parent's part, but they (cyclizine) have literally saved my sanity. I didn't find it worked very well to begin with, stopped taking it, deteriorated massively and then tried taking it when I felt terrible, and that seems to work for me at the moment (taking about 1 a day, can take up to 3). I had to consider the effect of the drug (looking at MOH's site it seems quite safe) against the effect of no nutrients for the baby/me.
Lucinda thank you for info on acupuncture. When you say temporary, how temporary do you mean?
I am 11 weeks now (have scan a week tomorrow) and I think I can cautiously say that I am starting to eat a bit more variety, have even managed some melon and strawberries, and some soggy cornflakes, on top of my staple diet of ryvita and cheese. The rice I tried last night was not a good idea! Note to self to not get too adventurous

Hello everyone!
looks like it has been a busy weekend on here!
As for us, all infections over, the nausea does seem to have lifted to a more manageable level again. We managed a weekend away in the cotswolds and even a pub lunch!
feekerry I'm aware we're only a week apart so always interested to know how you're doing - I'm on no meds at all now except on car journeys but I know that there will be a level of nausea present until birth again as there was with DS. Its ok as long as i eat every 2 hrs (can't imagine how many packets of snack-a-jacks will have got through by then!) so I'm self conscious about that as I feel it looks to the rest of the world like i'm a complete pig and really enjoying my food - whereas as we all know food is like medicine in this kind of pregnancy!
Clandy please be reassured about taking antiemetics - i took them through first HG pregnancy and ds is perfect. of course we'd all like to manage without drugs but you need to look after yourself
smk84 Acupuncture helped alot in first pregnancy, less so in this one - but as this has been a slightly easier time this time round anyway its hard to compare - esp since I had the acupuncture while ttc - did that help make the nausea slightly easier this time? who knows
but i did find it very relaxing and i really appreciated the holistic approach to my mind and body and time and sympathy that acupuncturist was able to give.

SMK By temporary, I think Caramel found she got complete relief for a couple of days, and Grumblin too - they'd be generally a lot better for some days. Interesting it helped Magnum A lot more in her first pregnancy,and that she had it TTC. As I say, it helped some, like Fluffy more, though I think she had to keep on with the meds, and it helped me dramatically. It should be available through the NHS...Good news your diet is increasing. Rice? Aagh, avoid, truly horrific on its way back up again.
Clandy How are you today? I hope you've managed to get a dr's appointment?
Magnum So glad infections have left you! I noticed a mini bump myself long before the textbook dates...
Fleurliese and Everyone how are you?

Lucinda
xx

So am I the only person that can tolerate rice then? Love it...not as much as mash/toast though! Spaghetti however....that can really stick in the throat! Ugh.

I'm 20 weeks now and aware I haven't checked in for a while. I still haven't been sick since 17 weeks and - as MagnumWhite posted, am only on meds for car journeys (I think my DH thinks he's Jenson Button - bless him!)

I've got a meeting with the Head teacher on Wednesday to discussed a phased return for the last three weeks of term. Hoping it'll be lots of concerts/christmas delights and not much planning. That's the great thing about Special Needs Teaching - my guys don't take so many exams...

Not sure how my stamina will cope - but I'm desperate to get back. Really missing everyone - and also miss feeling as though I'm earning my pay packet: I want to put an appearance in before Mat Leave on 10 Feb! (aka Half Term) Also - I'm proud of my bump and want others to see it!! (Silly??)

I can't believe how much better I feel than I did a month ago. Even though I am still exhausted, and still a few pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight, my cloud of anxiety and hopelessness vanished with the vomiting, and reinforces what I felt all along - that I wasn't depressed, I was just in the midst of a terribly depressing condition. Keep the faith, people!

By the way - HG veterans, any chance it will get worse again after so many good weeks? If I get a cough, for example, or find myself run down/exhausted? I just want to be prepared...

Hi all, just need to say that I am having an awful day . Been sick 5 times, including throwing my cyclizine back up so no benefit from that, literally can't keep anything down. Haven't been able to get out of bed and feel soooooo nauseous I don't know what to do with myself. Had a good day yesterday I just hope today isn't a sign of things to come.

Hello All,

Sorry for the late response. Had a busy weekend, after hibernating the past few weekends we went to visit family and break the news. I'd already told my mum and sister as they have both survived HG, but we waited till this weekend to tell my in-laws, who of course thought we were just describing normal morning sickness when we explained what I've been going through.

Smk 5 times! That's horrible - thinking of you. It's really bad when even the cyclizine won't stay down.. Maybe see if the Dr will give you something else (have you already tried Ordansetron?), or are you just going to see how you go tomorrow. Fingers crossed it's just one bad day :(

Maldive Welcome! Advice from the ladies here is invaluable, plus it keeps you sane to be able to have a general b*h when things get unbearable. MOH has so much info - really helped, plus her site is a great resource.

Horsey So glad you got your dose re-upped! That Dr obviously wasn't up to date on hyperemesis!

LucindaE Thanks for asking - the nausea is still bad in the evenings so have been having lots of early nights and literally sleep for 11-12 hours. During the day I can keep stuff down, so not bad! I'm just rubbish company for DH! But he's used to it now!

SpannerMary Rice has mainly been good apart from when nothing stayed down. It's veggies I wish I could get back into as I'm sure I'm anaemic after the past few weeks. Sounds like you are doing great - show off that bump!

Lottie Thanks for the reassurance, keeps us all positive to think of the not too distant future I think!

Belladons Hope you escape HG this time - never know.. But if the nausea gets bad I wouldn't wait for the puking to start before getting to the Dr...

clandy I'm a bit annoyed on your behalf, it's all very well for DP to say dont take drugs but he's not the one who's sick. Also, he really has to have a better reason than saying that decades ago some drugs were dangerous. Things have changed. There is lots of safety data on the commonly used antiemetics and there isn't a doctor in the country who would prescribe you anything as dangerous as thalidomide. I know people are scared of taking things in pregnancy and we would all like to avoid taking drugs, but we can't, so we get information and make a rational decision based on actual facts, not just a general discomfort with the whole idea of it. Tell DP to get his head out of the sand, join the rest of us in the 21st century and start googling for info!! Here's a starting point www.hyperemesis.org/mothers/treatments/medications.php
Sorry for the rant, but thalidomide was 50 years ago, are we forever going to deny treatments to women who desperately need it because of a drug that is no longer used in pregnancy and bears no similarity to the ones used nowadays ?!?!

feekerry so glad you're feeling better, I made 2 or 3 attempts to stop meds altogether having dropped to 1 x ondansetron (4mg) per day, but within 3 days I'd be back in bed with a 'just-in-case' bucket by the bedside thinking hmmm is this how I want to spend the rest of the pregnancy? I always went back onto my one a day and spent another 3 days feeling not great while it built back up again. I last tried to give up at 29 weeks and just thought sod it, and stayed on it till birth (at 34 weeks). The GP said there was no point in not taking it.

maldive agree with others, you need to give it time, a couple of days and increase the dose if nothing's happening. But having said that, don't leave it too long, if you don't feel any difference in a few days it's probably not working for you and it never will. Promethazine did diddly squat for me I have to say, my drugs of choice were stemetil and ondansetron. If I were you I'd make an appointment now to see your GP in two days time, by then you'll know if it's working for you. If it works and you're ok with it, just cancel the appointment. If not, you have the appointment to ask for something else. This is better than waiting two days, then waiting another two for an appointment during which time you'll just get sicker.

Sorry it's been to long. I'm doing much better still on dom perignon domperidon and still working away. Now over halfway had my 20 week scan. Baby Genghis positional talipes so wee bit of physio for him/her in April.

Hope your all well!

Hello. Had an awful weekend feeling terrible so think its docs for me. I feel like I should respect DP's wishes in a way as it is just as much his baby but I'm suffering and I don't have to be! In another situation with at other illness it would be different!!

I agree with the rice comments very nasty to throw up!! Will not be eating any until the sickness has well and truly gone

How is everyone else today??

Oh and thanks for the advice ladies x

well thank you everyone for your good wishes/thoughts but unfortunately i lasted all of 5 hours with no meds before the HG hell returned. was violently sick. yuk. bit fed up really. think its around to stay. 23 fecking weeks and still fecking sick
i think as you say MOH100 i'm just going to give up on giving the meds up. there's no point now. i can manage okay on one 4mg a day like you say so i'm just going to stay on it now till i have her. i cant believe i STILL have it. its not likely to go now is it.....
sorry to hear you have also had a bad day clandy get on the meds!!!xx

Aww sorry to hear that your feeling unwell again feekerry think it sounds a good idea to stay on the meds. Can't imagine how awful it is to be sick still after 23 weeks. Poor you

just a quick one from me

maldive keep at the phernagan, was the only thing that worked for me, took 3 a day from 9 weeks after going thru a few others. hope yr feeling a bit better on them.

i have to say that even with taking max dose I was still sick if i moved much out my bedroom! and when I did get a bit better, I had to make sure I didn't overdo it. I would get a few good days and then have a week in bed. When I started to cut down, it was the afternoon tablet i cut out first. After a while I got used to always being sick in the morning, tablet or not, so was easy to cut that one out too. Honestly, the only thing that really helped was smoking some weed (highly controversial I know, we did discuss on last thread i think)! Nausea gone, quick quick take anti sickness tablet (as it would then stay down!) and eat some food and then try and sleep so you don't throw up again (and then hope you dont wake up cos you thrown up in yr sleep!)

clandy think DP needs to stay with you 24/7 whilst yr at the height of yr puking then say you shouldn't take the meds! How bloody ridiculous. Show him this thread, we all took them and all our babies are fine! If we didn't there was more risk to both of us.

feekerry its surprising the difference just one tablet a day makes though now isnt it, compared to how many you were taking so don't feel bad :)

aaahbump what is positional talipes? sounds like a form of yoga!

on the fb HG group someone posted an exert from a pregnancy book basically saying HG is all in the mind and if we got away to a spa for the day we would recover. My poor OH, i ranted at him about it! How can people actually publish stuff like that!?!? Really does not help people perceptions about us being morning sickness wimps

Clandy I do hope you get a doctor's appointment? What TheOnly and MOH say is so true, that horror was over fifty years ago, the risks of dehydration and malnourishment are so much greater than taking meds proved time and again to be safe for pregnant women. How are fluids staying down these past few days? As I say, Acupunture had a dramatic effect on me and has helped others, but it is very expensive, and most of them still had need of meds during the first tri at least.
SMA Poor you, five times, how exhausting, cyber hugs, I do hope you are having a better day today, or I suppose you have to get something else from the doctors, how disappointing.
Spannermary That is so great that the Hyperemesis has faded away and with it the depression! For sure it is a depressing, isolating illness. Thanks for your encouraging message for current sufferers. I don't think it ever comes back full force once its gone completely away unless you are either ill with something else or have really overdone it, as a temporary thing.
AahBump Thanks for your good news too. Lol TheOnly I have no idea what that is either?
Feekerry Really sorry it didn't turn out as you hoped. Very discouraging, but there have been women on this thread who got a lot better even after 23 weeks, so don't despair of its going yet.
Fleurliese No doubt the baby is growing during those 11/12 hours, which is good. It's wearying trying to explain, people really have no idea. I'm glad you can eat in the day, and I am sure DH sees a big improvement from when the vomiting was incontrolable, its difficult to make happy conversation in between retching...
Apologies to anyone I've rudely overlooked.
Lucinda
xx

Hello ladies,

I think I might need to join you on this thread. I haven't read it all yet, so sorry if I ask things that have already been said.

I'm probably overreacting anyway and it might just be 'normal' morning sickness. I'm nearly 9 weeks and have been permanently nauseous since 5 weeks. That got worse at about 7 weeks and I've been sick too for a week now. I haven't been able to eat a meal for a month. Most days I can't eat anything. Cheddar cheese is the only thing I can manage, with the occasional bowl of cheerios if I'm not quite so bad in the morning. I'm not sick that often (usually only twice a day), but the constant nausea and thinking I'm going to be sick seems as bad. Every smell makes me retch. I basically try to barricade myself into my bedroom as offensive smells can't get to me!

However, I have a 2 year old, a dog that needs walks, food and attention and am supposed to work 2 days a week although haven't managed that for a few weeks (no sick pay either!). I am just managing to feed DD, although can't say her diet is very good!

What should I do? Will GP just tell me to sod off and put up with it? How do I get anything in the house done? Poor DH works so hard and will have to work even more if I'm not earning.